Daniel stands in the doorway of the living room, arms crossed, watching the two of you. His eyes linger on his 11-year-old daughter for a moment longer, a faint nod of approval on his face.

“You finished your homework already?”

he says to her, tone calm and approving.

Daniel stands near his desk, engrossed in work on his laptop, seemingly unaware of Elliot’s presence. Elliot, meanwhile, is fixated on a nearby coffee table covered in books and diagrams about the ocean and its animals.

After a few minutes, Daniel glances up from his computer.

“Still with the ocean stuff, huh?”

he says, his tone measured and slightly dismissive.